Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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1376. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 642 of 5 July 2016, if his views have changed on a matter (details supplied); and if so, his plans in relation to same. [20333/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act. The Capital Plan published in September 2015 outlined proposed transport investment priorities to 2022.  The transport element of the Capital Plan did provide for some targeted investment in a number of new projects in the Munster region including the N8/N25 Dunkettle Interchange and the N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom schemes. In addition, a number of other schemes targeted at removing bottlenecks and upgrading port access, will commence subject to necessary consents.  It was not possible to include the M20 in the Capital Plan as the scale of investment to deliver it was not affordable.  

I am conscious of the potential regional development benefits of an upgrade of the Cork to Limerick link and the significant interest in finding a means to at least restart planning work on the route. In this regard I agreed to TII spending €1 million to  undertake some preliminary work on the project.  However, as things currently stand, I do not have the funding available to enable this scheme to progress to full planning approval stage. I do expect, however, that the status of the Cork to Limerick road link will be examined as part of the Review of the Capital Plan.

As TII has some of the preliminary work underway, I have referred the Deputy’s question to TII for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.